Darren Broxton was a regular in the West Australian junior State side until he trialled successfully with English Premier League club Southampton early in 2000. Twelve months later the talented right-sided midfielder is consistently making the starting eleven with that clubs Under-17's side and learning a lot as he pursues his footballing dream. He was back in Perth for the English mid-season break which was when Brett Klucznik caught up with him to find out how life was treating him overseas ...

Could you give me a bit of background information on Darren Broxton, who you played for in Perth, that sort of thing?
I started off at Sorrento where I played from Under-10's to Under-15's and then moved to Inglewood with the Hammers set-up. And later when that became the Saints Academy I moved to Joondalup ... I played State all through from Under-12's to Under-15's but I didn't play State last year. Under-12's I went to Japan, Under-13's and 14's to Adelaide, and at Under-15's the nationals were in Canberra. And I was in the Joeys set-up for a while, but because I went to England I think I've dropped out of the scene there.

So it was through the Saints Academy that you came about landing a contract in England?
Southampton were aligned with Joondalup, they came and watched our team play and picked out who they thought were the best players and it went from there. I went to England for trials in January 2000 originally ... I was injured for quite a bit during the trials but I trained for about a week, played a game and they offered me to stay after that game.

You then came back to Perth and with Joondalup for the winter ...
I played until about June then went back to England for the pre-season.

How did you feel about having to leave Perth, family and friends to play on the other side of the globe?
It's been alright because it is what I've always wanted to do. I've been bought up to play football so it really wasn't that bad when I went over, and I get to come back twice a year which is pretty good.

What is the academy set-up like at Southampton? Take us through a typical week ...
On a Monday I go to College in the morning and then it's training in the afternoon. Then on Tuesday we train twice a day - morning and afternoon - and the same on Wednesday. Thursday it's all day at College, Friday we have a little practice match - Under-17's verses Under-19's - in preparation for Saturday's game. Sunday's a day off.

What do you study at College?
I'm doing a coaching course where I practice coaching little kids.

Do you have a lot to do with the first team players at the club?
I see them everyday and they're alright if you want to ask them questions. They're okay to say hello and all that but really we don't see them that much. I suppose maybe in a few years time when I'm 19 and in the Under-19's I might do.

What is the standard of the competition in England's youth system?
It's a lot faster, a lot harder, more physical than over here. When I first got there I didn't know how I was going to fit in but as each month goes it's getting better and better ... I'd say it's quicker than the N.S.L. but it's hard to judge because I've not played in the N.S.L. It's really fast for the age though.

There are two paths that young players are following these days. One takes players through the N.S.L. and national junior sides before heading abroad, while the one you've chosen takes you overseas at a young age where you progress through the grades there. How have you find it going over in your teens?
I think that because it's faster and I just wanted to play at the best standard possible, it's better to go over young. It makes you a better player overall because you're doing this full-time and it's all professionally organised.

You've been a regular in the Under-17's side this season. How have the team been performing?
We must have gone at least ten games unbeaten and I was starting every week. But lately we've dropped off a little bit - Arsenal and West Ham have probably the best youth set-up's in the whole of England and we drew with West Ham and lost to Arsenal which wasn't bad. We're third to them I think.

What have been the highlights of your first six months with Southampton?
I'd say playing in the F.A. Youth Cup when I came on as a substitute playing at the Dell (against Birmingham City). I also got to catch up with Clint (Davies) - he was on the bench and we beat them 1-0. We're now through to the next round when we play Leeds at Elland Road about five days after I get back. I'll definitely be in the squad at least and if I'm a sub I should get a run.

And I believe you are off to Chile shortly with one of the youth sides?
The 17's and either the year above us or the year below us, it's either an Under-17's or 18's tournament. We'll be playing against a lot of national sides like Peru, I'm not sure about Brazil, but Mexico, Chile and teams like that. I think Southampton have got a link with one of the Chilean sides and that's where they got the idea from. The tournament is in the beginning of February for about three and a half weeks I think ... I'm really looking forward to it.

Are Southampton the sort of club that you'd like to play for professionally in terms of what they can offer you as a player?
Definitely. I love living at the lodge because all the players are there ... I don't really want to live with families, digs and all that, I don't really like that. It's good being with all the players and I suppose it's easier to push youngsters through at Southampton, they've had heaps of youngsters graduate to the first team like Matt Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Kevin Phillips and so on. I think it's a bit easier than going to say Liverpool or Manchester United and trying to go up through the ranks because they are such good teams and it would be so much harder to breakthrough.

All the players at Southampton live together then?
If a player comes from around Southampton then they usually live at home. But players from overseas - Australia, Italy, Wales and even other parts of England - in their first or second year with the club, and there are probably about 16 of us, we all live together.

There are quite a few players at Southampton from Australia aren't there?
There was Mark Graham but he wasn't offered another contract because he's third year but he's back in the Under-20's squad for Australia now. There's Matt Rossier, he's from New South Wales, Scott MacDonald who played in the Youth World Cup side, and Adrian Caceras and myself from W.A.

Adrian Caceras followed you over from Perth and has been featuring fairly prominently in the reserves side at Southampton. What can you tell me about him?
He's going really good. He's scored a couple of goals and travelled as part of the first team to Manchester, which he loved because he got to warm-up on the pitch at Old Trafford. We're good friends and get along really well.

Where do you see your career heading from here? What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months?
I'm just hoping to see out this year with the 17's, that's what you normally do, and then be pushing for reserves next year and especially in my third year with the club. Then hopefully secure a contract and go from there.

What about getting back in the running for a spot in the Australian team?
Yeah. It's weird because I was actually born in England and I lived there until I was about nine or there's a bit of mixed feelings there. But if the chance came up I'd definitely take it, the club are not interested in holding players back from that sort of thing.

You never know, you were in the Joeys squad before you went to England and by the sounds of things have come on in leaps and bounds since linking with Southampton. Thanks for your time and all the best with making a career for yourself with the club.
No problem ... and thanks for the kind words.

Copyright Brett Klucznik, 2001. No part of this article may be reproduced without the prior content of it's author, Brett Klucznik (bklucznik@iprimus.com.au). Doing so would be a violation of copyright laws and regulations.